Choral Scholarships
The St Martin-in-the-Fields Choral Scholarships are among the most stimulating and educative choral programmes available in London. The scheme is aimed at choral singers who are wishing to embark on a professional career in singing. The Choral Scholarships provide an opportunity for up to ten singers to enjoy an intensive, focused period of training with others of a similar standard and interests and are an integral part of an exciting choral music programme.
Alongside singing services, concerts and events at St Martin’s, exploring a huge range of repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day, choral scholars will receive regular opportunities for learning, including a series of workshops with members of staff at St Martin’s and external professional musicians.
Applications for 2024-25 are now closed. Please email choirs@smitf.org if you would like to be kept informed when applications open for 2025-26.
Click here to meet the 2023-24 Choral Scholars.
With thanks to The Arts Society, The Golsoncott Foundation, the Pilling Trust and donors to the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust for supporting the 2024-25 Choral Scholarship programme at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Diocese of Manchester Choral Scholarships
The Diocese of Manchester Choral Scholarships offer a programme of stimulating and educative choral training, working across churches in Manchester with the music team from St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. The scheme is aimed at choral singers wishing to embark on a professional career in singing. The Choral Scholarships provide an opportunity for up to ten singers to enjoy an intensive, focused period of development alongside others of a similar standard and interests whilst building on a tradition of musical excellence in churches in the city centre and beyond.
The Choral Scholarship programme is part of a wider project called ‘Sing my Soul’, which aims to develop new music and faith initiatives in a number of churches in the Diocese of Manchester, supported by the Church of England Strategic Development Fund.
As well as their regular commitments, the Manchester Choral Scholars have sung for broadcasts of Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3, taken part in Church of England online services for Christmas and the Platinum Jubilee, and participated in concerts in London and Manchester, including a collaboration with vocal ensemble I Fagiolini. They have taken part in workshops with choral leaders including Neil Ferris, Jamie Wright, Robert Hollingworth and Stuart Overington.
In 2024-25 the Choral Scholars will be based at St Paul’s Church, Withington, South Manchester, singing for services on Wednesday evenings, alongside some Saturday performances in St Stephen Audenshaw, Oldham Parish Church and other churches throughout Manchester.
For further information about the Diocese of Manchester Choral Scholarship, please click here.
We are currently recruiting for tenors and basses for the 2024-25 programme. For further information, please click here. The deadline for applications is Friday 23rd August 2024.
Please email choirs@smitf.org if you would like to be kept informed when applications open for the 2025-26 Choral Scholarship programme.
Organ Scholarship
The Mary and Bryn Walters Organ Scholarship is an exciting opportunity for an undergraduate or recent graduate to work in the professional music department of a busy and thriving London church. The Organ Scholar will develop their skills in accompaniment on both organ and piano in a large variety of repertoire, and in addition, will gain experience and expertise in choral directing.
Duties involve accompanying and occasionally directing regular weekly services and rehearsals at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Please note: there is no Sunday commitment.
Applications for 2024-25 have now closed. Please email choirs@smitf.org if you would like to be kept informed when applications open for 2025-26.
With thanks to Mary & Bryn Walters for supporting the organ scholarship.
Our music programmes are supported by generous donors, funders and members of the Music Patrons Circle. We are grateful to the following and those who have chosen to give their support anonymously.
Funders
- The Arts Society
- The Foundation for St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
- Lord and Lady Lurgan Trust
- The Pilling Trust Fund
- The Williams Church Music Trust
Legacies
- Mary and Bryn Walters and family
Music Patrons Circle
- Bernard and Phyllis Fisher
- Lady Sarah Riddell
- & Other Patrons
